Overview
- Wizz Air announced the new Lavacolla base on Thursday, July 30, 2026, and will station one A321neo there from 1 February 2027 while selling tickets now for routes that begin this December and next February.
- The carrier will launch international services to Warsaw-Modlin from 1 December and Rome-Fiumicino from 14 December, plus five national routes including Málaga, Tenerife Norte and Gran Canaria that start with the base in February 2027.
- Public support is part of the financing: the Xunta pledged €200,000 for promotion of the Rome and Warsaw links, Santiago’s tourism company reserved marketing funds and Aena’s December bonification change lowered per-passenger charges for Lavacolla.
- The announcement prompted sharp political pushback, especially from Vigo’s mayor who accused the Xunta of favouring Santiago and criticised the lack of a coordinated Galician airport strategy and open procurement for subsidies.
- Analysts and local sources note the deal departs from usual practice by opening a base before proving sustained demand, and it could reshape competition, fares and route plans across Galicia while Wizz Air says it has not ruled out future services to Vigo.